Traditions keep Fall Fest alive

October 29, 2013

Rudy Mathewson, IV, 2, at right dances to band music with his grandfather, Rick Mathewson.

CRIDERSVILLE â€” Halloween creatures paraded Cridersville in a search for candy and family fun during the annual Fall Festival and parade Monday night.
Locals crowded East Main Street to get a glimpse of the businesses and organizations participating in the parade. More than 200 parents and children followed the parade back to the Cridersville Fire Department, where the facilities hosted the annual costume contest and fall festivities.Â
â€śItâ€™s all about the commuity,â€ť Cridersville Fire Chief Rick Miller said. â€śThis is something good for the kids. Without the kids, we donâ€™t have have a town or a future.â€ť
The festival began more than 30 years ago from the Cridersville Businessmenâ€™s Association.Â
This year, more than 10 local businesses sponsored the events.
One of the festivalâ€™s founders, John Bayliff said the fall parade and festivities formed when a group of business leaders brainstormed an idea to keep the community together.
â€śItâ€™s been a good, wholesome thing for the town,â€ť Bayliff said. â€śPeople look forward to it every year.â€ť
For more information on the parade, see the Tuesday, Oct. 29 edition of the Wapakoneta Daily News.